Los Angeles Police Chief: The LAPD is Changing Its Policy of Detaining Undocumented for ICE

During a press conference Thursday, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck announced proposed changes to the way the Los Angeles Police Department handles Immigration and Customs Enforcement detentions of some undocumented immigrant arrests.

Chief Beck stated:

In the spirit of keeping with the intended purpose of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Secure Communities program signed into law by the President of the United States September 30 2008, in which “ICE prioritizes the removal of criminal aliens, those who pose a threat to public safety, and repeat immigration violators,” the LAPD is proposing to no longer grant an ICE Detainer Request without first reviewing the seriousness of the offense for which the person is being held as well as their prior arrest history and gang involvement.

The LAPD, the second largest police department in the U.S., is said to be developing the list of criminal offenses which do not meet the intended purpose of Secure Communities, including low-grade misdemeanor offenses and public nuisance charges.

Under this new proposal, those arrested for one of these lesser crimes with not be subject to longer detention intended for those to be turned over to ICE. However, the LAPD will still honor detention requests on all felony and high-grade misdemeanor arrests.

Chief Beck stated the LAPD hopes to implement the new protocols by January 1, 2013.

It is believed the new policy will affect approximately 400 people each year.